“Smooth.”
“That’s me, babe.”
She lifted her chin and stared into his eyes, seeing the amused look in them. “I love that you have a sense of humor.”
They entered the bedroom and she gasped when he suddenly turned, hurling them both toward the bed. They hit with a bounce. The soft mattress cushioned their fall and he rolled, pinning her flat under him.
“That’s good. I like to laugh and I have the best time with you, my Vanni.”
She liked him calling her that. “I have the best time with you too, my Smiley.”
His grin faded and a serious expression wiped out all traces of humor. Vanni sobered too.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“You called me yours.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I am yours. You’re mine. We’re getting married. I already consider you my mate. Is that okay with you?” He reached up and caressed her cheek. “Don’t break my heart. It will if you deny what is between us.”
“I’d never do that,” she swore.
“I have so many feelings for you.” He played with her hair, wrapping locks of it around his fingers. “Tell me I’m important to you.”
“You are.” She took a deep breath, deciding to be totally honest. “I’m falling in love with you.”
He smiled, all the tension leaving his face. “I’m already in love with you. I have been since we bonded in the back of that SUV. You trusted me to care for you and put your faith in me. You’ll never know what that meant. I went insane when I woke up and learned you’d run away from the task force members. I couldn’t eat or sleep. I worried that you were out there afraid and alone. That someone would hurt you. I want to protect you and keep you safe. I want you in my arms, in my home and with me all the time. I hate being apart from you. You’re all I think about.”
“You’re all I think about too.”
“I’m going to make you happy, Vanni. Trust that. I’ll never hurt you or let you down. It is a good thing that I’m not human because I’ll never cheat on you. I know humans do that. Species don’t. I won’t. You’re all I’m ever going to want. I’ll never allow anyone to harm you. I’d kill them if they tried. You are my first priority. You are the most important thing in my life. That means I place you before all other Species, if you were worried about that. You won’t be an outsider here. As my mate, you are Species.”
“That’s so sweet.” She was a bit overwhelmed.
“It’s not sweet. It’s a fact.”
“Are you sure you want to marry me this fast? We could wait until—”
“Don’t,” Smiley rasped. “I am certain. Forget logic and whatever you were taught in the out world. Your rules of dating don’t apply here. We can be happy. We will be. There’s no need for us to date for months to know we’re right for each other. This is just you and me. See how well we fit together?” He adjusted his hips, his cock still hard inside her. “It’s not about the sex though. I don’t want you to think that’s all there is to our relationship. We’re so much more.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?” He studied her closely, peering deeply into her eyes. “We can get through anything together if we just talk and are honest. You could ask me anything, tell me anything, and I’m going to keep loving you. I want to have faith that you will do that with me.”
“You’re such a good man, Smiley.”
“I’m yours, Vanni. Say you’re mine. Let’s just do this. I know it might frighten you to take a mate this fast but trust me to be here for you. Take a leap. I’ll catch you. Always.”
She believed him. “Okay.”
“You’ll be happy. I’ll make sure of it.”
“I need to get a job.”
“We don’t live in a money-based system. You can find something to do if you get bored but you can stay home if you wish. I just want you happy, Vanni.”
The idea of being a housewife was appealing. “And we can try to have babies. I’d really like that.”
“I’d love to have children with you.”
“So it’s all decided. We are going to elope. We’ll do something simple and fun.”
“With your friend Beth and my friends. We need to find a minister.”
“Exactly. Stress free and it’s going to be about us.”
“It’s always going to be about us.” He released her and lifted off, separating their bodies.
“Where are you going?”
“To remove these boots and pants.” He got to his feet but then collapsed onto the floor.
Vanni sat up and laughed, watching him tear off his boots. He just tossed them toward the closet and shoved his pants all the way off once his feet were bare. He rose to his knees and braced his hands on the end of the bed.
“I have some calls to make. Don’t move. Stay in that bed.”
“You’re going to arrange it right now?”
“Yes.” Smiley rushed out of the room. “I’m not going to give you time to second-guess us again. We are going to seal our bond in your world and mine.”
Vanni chuckled, the sight of his muscular bare ass the last thing she saw before he disappeared down the hall. Human guys usually dragged their feet about making serious commitments but Smiley didn’t have that problem. He’d said sex wasn’t the only thing they had and she believed him. He was still sporting a hard-on but was making calls instead of staying in bed with her.
Chapter Twenty
Smiley returned to the bedroom ten minutes later and grinned at the sight of Vanni sitting on the bed waiting for him. “It’s arranged. We can do it as soon as tomorrow evening.”
Her eyes widened and he froze in his tracks, hoping she wouldn’t change her mind. Humans were so different and unpredictable. “Is that okay?”
“That is fast. I have to contact Beth. I really want her there.”
“Contact her first thing in the morning. We can have her picked up and flown to Reservation. There’s something we need to do first once we reach Reservation though.” He took a seat on the side of the bed and reached out, taking her hand. “I planned to tell you this when I got home but seeing how happy you looked when I came in the door distracted me. I don’t want to dampen your mood but there’s something we must discuss. It’s serious.”
“More so than getting married?”
“No, but it is important.”
She inched closer and gripped his hand tightly. “Okay. Just tell me.”
“Gregory Woods attempted to flee the country with his son and security team.”
She said nothing. He wished she’d express her feelings but the silence lengthened. She stared at him, appearing a little stunned. He tried to think of her concerns.
“He didn’t get away. You’re safe, Vanni. He won’t be able to hurt you or your family. He won’t have access to a phone and that means he can’t order anyone who works for him to do anything in retaliation. We had a task force member pose as his pilot for the private plane he hired. They boarded and were flown directly to where the NSO took them into custody. They are being held at Reservation. We’re going to go there tomorrow at noon. I would like to have words with a few of them. You may view them through a wall of glass, if you wish. I’d prefer you didn’t have any direct contact with them.” He might kill anyone who threatened Vanni again. “But it’s your choice. I know sometimes it helps to be able to confront your fears or in this case, the males who caused you such distress.”
“You said his son. Carl tried to leave with him?”
“Does that upset you?” It angered Smiley that she asked about her ex-fiancé. “He put you in a lot of danger, Vanni.”
“It’s not that. I’m just surprised he was willing to leave his practice and his house behind. I can’t see him giving up his lifestyle for his dad. He kept telling me they weren’t close. I guess that was a lie.”
“He had financial problems. He was about to lose everything he owned.”
“I didn’t know.” She frown
ed. “I guess that makes sense now why he was so pushy about going to the hotel with his father. He said it was to earn money for the wedding but maybe it was to get him out of debt.”
“Either way, he’s been arrested by the NSO. Does that upset you?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “He just walked out and left me with Bruce and his father. He had to know what they were planning. He wasn’t even surprised about the drugging. He was angrier that I’d gone into the bar instead of returning to my room the way he’d told me to do. He’s not a nice person.”
It was a relief to Smiley. “That’s right. He’s not. There’s more.”
She shifted on the bed and he was pleasantly surprised when she curled into him, resting her face against his chest. He released her hand and pulled her closer. It felt right having her in his arms and that she seemed to understand his need to touch her as often as possible. He played with her hair.
“What else?”
The information had infuriated him when he’d been told what the investigation had revealed. “Did you agree to let Carl purchase a life insurance policy on you?”
“Sure. We discussed it when we got engaged. He wanted us both protected in case something happened to one of us. We were going to do it after the wedding.”
“He bought a policy two months ago and insured you for a million dollars, Vanni.”
She tensed in his arms and her chin lifted. “He said it would be about a hundred grand on each of us. Just enough to cover the costs of a funeral and pay off what he said he still owed on his house so I wouldn’t be left in debt.”
“He only got a policy on you. There wasn’t one for him. I feel he may have planned to harm you once you were married.”
She paled and her fingers curled around his forearm. He brushed a kiss on her forehead. “You’re safe now. I just don’t want you to feel bad for him, Vanni. He’s not a decent human. He deserves to be locked up.”
“Beth always said he was a snake. I guess now I know why he didn’t care if his father ended up hurting or killing me. It would have saved him the trouble of getting rid of me himself. Why didn’t I see it?”
“Humans can be deceiving. You are the type to want to see good in people. That’s not a flaw. It’s a good trait.”
“I’m an idiot.”
“No.” He leaned in and stared into her eyes. “You’re sweet and I don’t want that to change about you. He fooled you. That’s his shame, not yours.”
“He’s really an ass.”
“Exactly. I don’t want you to forget that. He doesn’t deserve your sympathy or compassion. I’m going to ask him about it tomorrow. I’ll get the truth.”
She nodded. “Are you going to hit him?”
He was torn on how to answer. When he’d heard about that life insurance policy and Tim’s assumption that Carl planned to kill Vanni for profit it had made him see red—Carl’s blood, to be exact. She might not appreciate him beating on a male she’d once cared about though.
“It would be okay.” She caressed his arm. “I even want to hit him.”
He grinned. “You’re my female. I’m certain I’ll lose my temper and punch him a few times. You can watch, if you wish.”
She shook her head. “I’ll pass. Just don’t get arrested for assault and I’m fine with whatever you want to do to him. As you said, I won’t feel bad for him.”
She wasn’t into violence. He appreciated that about her. Vanni had a gentle, tender soul. It was one of the things he loved about her. She also seemed to accept him just as he was.
“They captured Bruce as well.” He tried to keep the anger out of his voice but that was a male he wanted to harm. “He will pay for the threats he made and for Tasering you.”
She shivered at just the mention of the male. “I’m glad he’s off the streets. I think he could potentially turn into a serial killer or something equally as bad, if he’s not already. I’ll sleep better at night knowing he can’t hurt anyone.”
Her words brought a gruff rumble from deep within his chest. Vanni’s eyes widened but she didn’t pull away.
“That’s my pissed-off-I’m-going-to-hurt-him noise,” he explained. “It’s not directed at you.”
“I know. That sound is kind of sexy.”
That surprised him. “You think so?”
“Yes. I like how protective you are. You’re totally going to kick his ass, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
She released his arm and flattened her palm on his chest, exploring it. He tightened his abs and lowered his gaze, watching her. His dick hardened further when she gently pushed against him. He leaned back, giving her access. Her chin rose and a slight blush tinged her cheeks.
“Is it okay to touch you?”
“Anywhere, anytime,” he rasped. “I encourage it.” The phone rang and Smiley muffled a groan. “I have to get that.”
He regretted pulling away from her to reach across the bed. He just wanted to make love to his Vanni. His frustration sounded in his voice. “What?”
“Is this a bad time?” Jericho asked. “Were you sharing sex?”
“We were about to.”
“Don’t answer the phone when you’re naked, Smiley. Here’s a tip. You can always return calls later when you’re done bonding with your mate.”
“That’s why you called? To give me obvious advice?”
“No. The helicopter is leaving at nine in the morning. They moved up the flight. Gregory Woods faked a heart attack, hoping Medical would send him to a human hospital. It was a pathetic attempt on his part to escape. He’s irritating everyone at Reservation to the point that they want to hand him over to Fuller Prison as soon as possible. I spoke to Torrent and he’s ready to shoot the male himself. He said the human is wailing and whining constantly and it’s hurting his ears.”
“Thank you for letting us know.”
“Go bond with your mate.” The phone disconnected.
Vanni gave him a curious look after he returned the phone to the cradle and faced her. “Is everything okay?”
It was a reminder that she was human. Jericho had a voice that carried and a Species would have overheard the conversation, sitting so close to him.
“Fine.” He stretched out next to her. “You can touch me.” He was hopeful she still wanted to. “That was my friend Jericho. Gregory is annoying everyone at Reservation. We’re flying there earlier in the morning than planned.”
She lay on her side against him and placed her palm on his stomach. He tried to keep his breathing slow and steady but his heart raced. Her touch excited him as her fingertips stroked over his lower ribs.
“Why?”
“They want to transfer him to Fuller Prison. That’s where we send humans who commit crimes against Species. It’s run by humans.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s a secret location that humans don’t know about. We didn’t want to put our people in the position of being jailors to the ones who harmed them. It didn’t seem fair or right to punish them by suffering their presence after they were sent away.”
Her gaze lifted and she smiled. “That sounds really smart.”
“We try.” He caught his breath when her fingers played lower, just under his bellybutton. She turned her head a little and grinned at the state of his lower half.
“I told you that I really enjoy your touch.”
“I see.”
“I get hard for you.”
“I see that too.” She lifted her hand away and he muffled a groan of protest.
Vanni sat up and climbed down the bed a bit, putting her closer to his hips. She rolled over onto her knees, a position that made him wish he were behind her. Color flooded her cheeks but she smiled.
“So we’re like married, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not real forward but I would like you to do something. Is that okay?”
“Anything.”
She laughed. “I didn’t even tell you what I wan
t you to do. You really should ask before agreeing to it or I could take advantage of that. What if I said I wanted you to take out the trash?”
“You’re not mean. I’m hopeful that it’s something sexual.”
Her laughter was the best sound ever. Her hand came down on his thigh, the touch gentle when she gripped him just inches away from his dick. It jerked in response, hopeful too.
“You’d do anything for me?”
“Yes. Name it.”
Her humor faded to a sincere expression. “You’re amazing.”
“I’m grateful you think so. What would you like me to do, my Vanni?” His gaze lowered to her thighs and he remembered she was shy. “Would you like my mouth on you?”
She sucked in a sharp breath, drawing his attention. The blush returned and he grinned. He could tell by her reaction that she wasn’t opposed to it. He sat up a little, prepared to do it, but she shook her head. He froze.
“I’d like to know if you’ll lie real still and let me, um…” She swallowed hard and shot a quick glance at his dick. “Um, you know. On you. I don’t think I’m really good at it but practice, right? I want to. Would you mind?”
“You want to put your mouth on me?” He winced a little at the gruff tone of his voice. He cleared his throat. “That’s a yes.”
She was adorable when she blushed even more and ducked her head. Her hair created a curtain, obstructing his view of his dick when she leaned over him. He slid flat and fisted his hands to avoid touching her. The soft strands of hair tickled his belly but he suppressed it. He was afraid he’d startle her or make her change her mind if he moved it. Hot breath fanned the crown of his dick and he closed his eyes.
“You can do anything,” he managed to get out. “I’m all yours.”
Her hot, wet mouth wrapped around the head of his dick and every muscle in his body grew rigid. The feel of her tongue hesitantly licking at him, tasting him, made his nuts ache. He eased his legs apart very slightly, hoping she wouldn’t notice. She took a little more of his shaft and moved up and down, stroking him in a way that made everything around them fade into nothingness. It was just Vanni and the pleasure she inflicted upon him. He clenched his teeth to avoid making sounds.